Stocking trout in Brush Creek, Shaffer Run

FAIRHOPE — A large crowd gathered at the Hillbilly Haven Tavern Friday to help Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission waterways conservation officers and culturists stock trout in Brush Creek and Shaffer Run.

Officer Dan McGuire said Shaffer Run is very popular among fishermen. Most of the volunteers went with the pickup truck stocking that waterway.

The remainder went with the state truck to multiple stops along Brush Creek. The truck, which has seven compartments and holds 100-150 gallons of water, had 1,900 displaced fish for Brush Creek and 1,600 for Shaffer Run, fish culturist Brad Nagle said.

The 21-year fish veteran said some days they fill fewer tanks and other days they have all seven full.

"It's a long process to determine how the loads will be delivered after we learn what the fish allocation for a county is," he said. "We cover five counties. We rotate five drivers between three trucks."

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Nagle used large nets to pull the trout from the compartments and fill buckets that were hauled to the water.

Oz Austraw, John Austraw and Denny Bryson, all of Latrobe, were some of the volunteers taking the buckets to be dumped.

They said they have been helping stock the area for more than 40 years.

"The atmosphere and the water keep us coming back," Oz said. "We love fishing over here."

John added, "The Loyalhanna is lined shoulder to shoulder on the banks opening day. I don't like fishing like that. We bring a camper over and make a weekend of it."

Bill and Phyllis Watkoski live near Packsaddle Covered Bridge and have been bringing their children and grandchildren out for 38 years. Bill hauled buckets while Phyllis carried 1 1/2-year-old granddaughter Erika Miller.

"We do it because of the love of fishing," he said. "We help mainly in this area. I will help do Wills Creek (today).

Dave Jodon has a cabin along Brush Creek and has been helping stock since the 1970's.

"I like to see them spread the trout out instead of just put in one section," he said. "I do it on my days off, because I love fishing. I've worked with the same guys for years. They are a very dedicated group."

McGuire said as long as there are eight people to carry the buckets on the truck he is happy.

"We have a lot of regulars," he said. "I would rather have less volunteers because it's just traffic if you have too many. The guys with trucks that can take fish are a big help. They get into areas we can't always get into with the state truck."

He noted that this year saw more rescheduled stocking days than in previous years due to the snow. He has been covering the southern part of Somerset County since 2002.

"As long as the water temperature is good we stock," McGuire said. "The only way we postpone is if the water is at flood conditions. We do stock if the water is high."

Two things McGuire stressed were to be willing to move around to different locations and to not litter.

"We have lost more property in rural areas because of litter problems from people coming from urban areas and not picking up after themselves," he said. " People also need to remember that while it is tradition to go to one certain place every year, if that area was stocked early the trout have been moving around for a while and are used to eating the aquatic bugs. They may not be in that area or are disinterested in your bait."

McGuire believes the Casselman River is one of the most under utilized waterways in the county.

"It is repeatedly stocked by the Commission and various co-ops, plus there is smallmouth bass to fish," he said. "I just don't think it sees as much activity as it could.

"Saturday's are great fishing days, but Sunday's aren't fished nearly as much. You could almost have streams to yourself."